Stronger parliamentary presence will safeguard rights

KUCHING: One-third parliamentary seats is needed to ensure the voices and interests of Sabah and Sarawak are not overlooked in national policy-making, especially in decisions that could impact these states.

In a joint statement, the Sarawak Indigenous Intellectuals Association (Perantis), Sarawak Rara Salako Association (Perasa), Raban Semadak Borneo Brotherhood, and Persatuan Kebajikan Persaudaraan Sahabat Miri highlighted the need for a stronger parliamentary presence to safeguard the rights of the Bornean states.

They pointed out that the current representation of Sabah and Sarawak combined falls short of this one-third threshold which leaves their rights and interests at risk.

“The Dewan Rakyat is the platform where voices from across the country are represented and where the nation’s direction is determined through the enactment of various laws.

“Thus, with a one-third allocation of seats, we can ensure that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remains safeguarded,” they said.

The statement also highlighted that while the one-third seat allocation is not explicitly mentioned in MA63, the Cobbold Commission Report used the term “safeguard” in reference to protecting the interests of Sabah and Sarawak within the federation.

“The Cobbold Commission was established to assess whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak supported the formation of Malaysia, and this safeguard was a key element in negotiations,” they explained.

Any amendments to the Federal Constitution, they added, require the support of at least two-thirds of Members of Parliament, making the additional seats a critical measure for Sabah and Sarawak’s influence in the legislature.

In stating this, they fully backed increasing parliamentary seats for the Bornean states as a vital step toward their recognition as equal partners in the federation.

“This is a safeguard agreed upon during Malaysia’s formation, ensuring that Sabah and Sarawak act as a balancing force in federal politics,” they said.

They added that with Clause (2) of Article 1 in the constitution, it solidifies the roles of Sabah and Sarawak within the federation, aligning with MA63 and granting the agreement formal recognition in the Federal Constitution, which had previously lacked reference.

Thus, they stressed, granting an additional 29 parliamentary seats to Sabah and Sarawak is essential.

“This step acknowledges Sabah and Sarawak not just as states equal to those in Peninsular Malaysia, but as founding partners with shared rights, supporting a solid foundation for strengthened ties among Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.

“The position of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia must be reflected through more equitable and balanced budget allocations and parliamentary seat distribution compared to previous arrangements,” they said.